Palladium Books® Weekly Update – June 7, 2012

By Kevin Siembieda

Something Unexpected

I have spent the last six weeks doing a lot of market research. It started at the Palladium Open House and intensified the last two weeks. My calls to Ultimate Insiders, Insider Benefactors and freelancers/friends contributed to it. The reason for the research was that a number of potential “new opportunities” have presented themselves to us, including doing miniatures for Robotech®, among other things. My thanks to the Benefactors, Insiders and others who have knowingly and unknowingly contributed to this vital research.

Surveying a few hundred Palladium customers revealed several important things.

Satisfaction is through the roof.

Most of you love the game rules.

Most of you are loving the new book releases.

Most of you want MORE. More for Rifts®. More for EVERYTHING. And the sooner the better.

Favorite recent release: Rifts® Lemuria.

Most anticipated upcoming release: Rifts® Northern Gun™ with Beyond the Supernatural™, Splicers® and Palladium Fantasy RPG® sourcebooks all clustered and fighting for the Number Two slot. I was surprised that these game lines had that much interest.

Favorite Palladium game line: Rifts®, with Heroes Unlimited™, Dead Reign™ and Palladium Fantasy RPG® fighting for second and third place and the rest of our world settings all coming in behind them.

When asked, what would you like to see Palladium do differently, change or improve?

A whopping 90% of you said, “Don’t change a thing. Keep doing what you are doing. Just, please, keep new product coming out at a steady pace.”

“We want more, and we want it now,” was a common, unsolicited sentiment. Along those lines, many expressed excitement for the promise of new material for Palladium Fantasy®, Splicers®, Beyond the Supernatural™, Nightbane®, Heroes Unlimited™ and Robotech®, pretty much in that order.

Of the remaining 10%, most wanted a few minor changes and tweaks, nothing major, and were very satisfied with Palladium and our products, overall.

Fun Facts Revealed

Of the customers/fans surveyed (90% of whom did not realize I was gathering information – I wanted their unbiased opinions), we learned what most of YOU probably already knew:

86% are dying to see a darn movie made. If not a Rifts® movie, they’d like to see Nightbane®, Splicers®, Dead Reign™, Beyond the Supernatural™, Phase World®, Palladium Fantasy®, Mechanoids® or Heroes Unlimited™, pretty much in that order.

78% want character generators for all Palladium games.

75% want video games of any variety based on Rifts® or any Palladium game setting.

75% are “excited” about the new Megaverse® Insider offer for the two Northern Gun™ books, and anxious for the new Insider offer to start. (FYI: It starts today!) Most said they were planning to make an Insider purchase for Northern Gun™ and would participate in future crowdfunding. 25% thought Palladium should do them more often. Only 2% thought it was too soon to do another already. (Four months after the first!?) But most also planned to make a purchase from the new crowdfunding offer for Northern Gun™ One and Two. 90% thought crowdfunding was a smart move. Note: The level of customer excitement and participation over the Megaverse® Insider offers (especially among those who made a purchase in the first offer) really surprised me. In fact, 30% thought we offered too much or an impressive value for what they paid; 68% thought it was perfect.

98% were completely satisfied with the Lemuria Megaverse Insider offer. Note: I was so glad to hear it. I always want to release products and special offers that please as many people as possible.

55% would like toys/action figures. Note: But not necessarily metal or plastic miniatures, which surprised me.

42% would like to see more hardcover editions of Palladium game titles, including sourcebooks. Note: This surprised me as well.

40% would like more novels based on Palladium game settings, especially for Rifts®.

33% would like more comic books based on Palladium game settings.

33% were “interested” in seeing an optional set of simplified rules, provided it kept the terms and feel of the current game system and they could use existing sourcebooks with it.

24% want to see more PDFs, but most said they also wanted to see printed books along with them. Many of these people were also interested in seeing Palladium titles made available in other e-reader formats.

20% want to see more miniatures and/or a miniature game for Rifts® or other Palladium settings. The number increases to 30% among Robotech® fans. Note: This comparatively low number surprised me, as several people have been pitching and hyping miniatures.

7% did not play (for various reasons; no time, no players in the area, etc.), but enjoyed reading and collecting the books for the “story” and “ideas.”

Fewer than 1% were dissatisfied with the Palladium game system. Most of those used Palladium world settings but the rules of another game or a combination of rules from two or more game publishers plus house rules. Despite this, all continued to enjoy and buy Palladium RPG titles to read for the “ideas” and “game setting.”

What all this tells us

This information tells us Palladium’s agenda to produce a lot of new, dynamic product is exactly what YOU – our customers – want. Everything else is secondary.

It also made something else very, very clear:a) That many of Palladium’s relentless critics are, not customers (i.e. they do not buy or play our games in the first place); b) some are outsiders who have never actually played our games and point out what they think they see as weaknesses and problems (i.e. comments like, “the game system is broken”); c) some have different tastes and prefer other styles of role-playing rules (resulting in comments like, “the world settings are great, but the rules suck,” or “I wish Palladium would change their rules to be more like Game X”); and d) some are dissatisfied with our product, me or the company. That’s okay. One of the things I love about role-playing games is that they are so flexible and can be altered to fit your personal inclinations and style of play. I learned long ago that you cannot please everyone, so I am delighted to see that not only are we satisfying the overwhelming majority of Palladium customers, but that most of you are delighted with the end product and wouldn’t change a thing.

As a result of this market study, I will be focusing on giving YOU what you want: More product. More product for all our game lines, and as quickly as we can without sacrificing quality!

It’s ironic, but that was my plan from the start of this year. Now, I feel like an idiot having wasted so much time the past several weeks on exploring the development of new product areas, when I should have been cranking out the RPG books we already have in the pipeline. I think it is human nature to doubt and second-guess yourself, especially when you’re being lobbied by outside forces to consider new things that sound promising. I have always made it a policy to listen to our customers and consider what they have to say. Regrettably, that means sometimes you get drawn off target. We’ll probably explore some of those new opportunities in the future, as I am always looking at new ideas and new technology. But right now, I have only two goals:

Release new RPG sourcebooks across all game lines.

Get new gamers to discover the magic of Palladium Books. We’ll do this via advertising, promotion, Megaversal Ambassadors, and grass roots word of mouth. The latter starts with Palladium by creating product with buzz, followed by you helping to spread the word.

Top Four Wants

More new product (without sacrificing quality).

Better support of all product lines on a regular basis, but without ignoring Rifts®. Rifts® remains the evergreen favorite.

For Palladium to get strong so you can stop worrying about us. Nice. Thank you.

Somebody make the darn Rifts® movie or a film or TV show based on one of Palladium’s game settings.

Seriously. Those were the four things I heard over and over again. And most of the time they were couched as suggestions or wishes, not complaints or criticisms. I thought it was all positive, useful and helpful.

All of this data and the start of the new Megaverse® Insider crowdsource funding is plenty to chew on for this week’s Update, so I’m not going to say much more.

UPDATE: Online Sales

They have picked up from lousy, but remain soft. The Northern Gun™ crowdfunding offer should change that.

UPDATE: Rifts®Vampires Sourcebook™

If you enjoyed Vampire Kingdoms, you will love the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook with data for Reid’s Rangers, Fort Reid, the Yucatan and much more, all updated and expanded.

UPDATE: Available on DriveThruRPG.com

The Rifter® #49-52 have been added to the issues available on DriveThruRPG.com (issues #1-52). We plan to add a few more items in the coming months that should please Palladium gamers. We are also continuing to move forward with plans for the PDF only editions of The Rifter® #0.1 and The Rifter® #0.2 – both are big, juicy digital editions of new, fan created material for the Palladium Megaverse® of games.

Don’t forget, DriveThruRPG.com also offers the Rifts® and Palladium Fantasy® Game Master Kits (both written by Carl Gleba and complete with maps, combat matrix, character sheets, spell list, and 20 pre-rolled characters created by Julius Rosenstein; $5 each), and FREE Sneak Previews of Endless Dead™, Rifts® Lemuria, Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms™, and Thundercloud Galaxy™, as well as 90+ back stock titles, including back issues of The Rifter®, and first edition rule books for Rifts®, Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Heroes Unlimited™, The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy, and lots of other good things. ALL available as PDF downloads at reasonable prices. And there is MORE to come.

UPDATE: Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles Store

Alex and I continue to add a bunch of Palladium collectibles as well as a large number of collectible toys and action figures to my online store. More will be added all weekend long as well as more new items every few days for the next several weeks. Right now they include proofreader copies of books, Palladium gold editions, some artwork, some art prints, and other good stuff. Most Palladium items are signed by me, Alex and other Palladium creators. We’ll keep them coming if you keep buying them. http://stores.ebay.com/kevinstoys-artandcollectibles

UPDATE: Good Health

Kevin’s Health. As far as I know, I’m doing well on the health front. My diabetes seems to be under control. I get a new report on my blood and body chemistry next week. I go for the rescheduled colonoscopy on Tuesday. Some other tests are lined up for July. All are precautionary measures. Feeling good and whenever I run into people I haven’t seen in a while, I’m told I look great. Always nice to hear. :)

Alex’s Health. He had a small relapse with his blood disease and had to go through a handful of treatments. Six weeks later, everything seems to be under control.

UPDATE: Palladium Birthdays in June

Kathy Simmons’ birthday is TODAY, June 7. Happy birthday, Kathy! Alex Marciniszyn’s birthday is June 12. Thom Bartold’s birthday (Thom is a Defiler, investor, friend and helper) is June 21.

UPDATE: Back in print

Fan favorites Rifts® Sourcebook 2: The Mechanoids® and Rifts® Cyber-Knights™ Sourcebook are back in print. See their description elsewhere in this Update.

UPDATE: Insider Calls

At this point I have spoken to all but a few Lemuria Benefactors. I still need to chat with most of the Lemuria Ultimate Insiders and will do so over the weekend. I have tried to call just about everyone at least once, but people weren’t available. I will continue to call until I have spoken with everyone. FYI: If you are a Benefactor or Ultimate Insider, you can always try calling me at the office, especially if it is difficult to reach you. Ultimate Insiders are supposed to be a “brief” call, so I’ll try to limit them to about 30 minutes. I have chatted with most Benefactors for an hour to an hour and a half and I have thoroughly enjoyed my calls with everyone. I look forward to speaking with the rest of you. Your call is coming.

THE BIG NEWS this week

Crowdfunding offers starts today for Northern Gun. Each of these Megaverse® Insider offers helps us fund the production of that specific title – in this case, Northern Gun™ One – and provides you with the opportunity to get a range of unique products exclusive to “Insiders.” Any money above and beyond our “goal” goes toward paying down debt, advertising, funding other projects and growing Palladium Books. We all want the company strong and vibrant again, and that’s what we’re doing. Plus, you get cool, rare, exclusive items not available to the general public!

NOTE: All special items offered in the Northern Gun Megaverse® Insider offer are available for only about two and a half weeks. Some on a first come, first served basis. Spread the word. Enjoy the Northern Gun Megaverse, Insider offer and game on.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Game Designer

Northern Gun Megaverse® Insider – starts today, June 7, 2012

I’m surprised and pleased to see how many of you are anxiously awaiting our Northern Gun crowdsource funding offer. Fantastic.

To help fund and facilitate new Palladium products and growth, we will continue to offer new Megaverse® Insider crowdfunding opportunities. Such crowdfunding will be reserved for major releases like Northern Gun One and Two and new ventures into new markets and mediums. Money made above and beyond our projected goals for the specific project are applied to paying off debt, increasing promotion and advertising, and other new products.

We are crowdfunding Northern Gun One and Two because they are both ambitious, art heavy projects. The money raised will enable us to make these books everything they should be . . . and more.

We are doing the offer on the two related books as two separate crowdfunding offers, five weeks apart. The Rifts® Northern Gun One Megaverse® Insider offer starts now and runs till June 25. The items offered are only available during this crowdfunding period. The Northern Gun Two Megaverse® Insideroffer starts July 12. NOTE: Palladium is doing them as two separate offers, as per the majority request by you that we do so. A large number of gamers asked that we make two separate offers to enable them to save the money to get both. Otherwise, many would have to miss out. We aim to please so two books, two separate crowdfunding offers.

Palladium’s Megaverse® Insider offers, in effect, sell you an array of special items that are NOT generally available to the public. Product available only to Megaverse® Insiders and only for the limited 2-3 week period of that specific Megaverse® Insider offer. “Insider exclusive” products include your name listed in that book as one of the “Insiders” who made it possible, a very limited edition hardcover, a more limited edition, collector’s hardcover foil edition, a PDF version of the book, and special combination packages that may include limited edition prints, original artwork and a call from me, Kevin Siembieda, for a brief chat.

We try to make these Megaverse® Insider products and opportunities special and worthwhile. This is not a charity, it’s the sale of unique items and opportunities that we hope have sentimental and financial value to you, as well as a means to help fund the production of the specific book/project. We hope that in a few years, those limited edition hardcovers, for example, are worth 2, 3 or 10 times what you paid for them. After all, they are printed to your exact orders plus a few dozen extra. (Both of the Rifts® Lemuria hardcovers were under 200 copies. That’s a very limited press run!)

Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids®

– Back in Print – Available now

Archie 3 and Hagan Lonovich are two of the most beloved villains (anti-heroes?) in the Rifts Earth setting. This sourcebook highlights their strange relationship, plots and blunders. One of which is inadvertently unleashing The Mechanoids® into the world!

The Mechanoids have one driving goal: To destroy all humanoid life! This book has it all. Source material, the Mechanoids, new equipment, monsters, adventure and cryptic prophesies.

The prophesies of the Seven Dangers.

20+ Mechanoids and their robot legion.

Optional Mechanoids® Player Characters and character sheets.

Archie Three and Hagan: Heroes or villains?

The weapons and robot minions of Hagan Lonovich.

New creations from Archie Three and Hagan, plus more history and insight about the unlikely duo.

Cyber-Knights™: A Rifts® Coalition Wars® Sourcebook:

– Back in Print – Available now

The Coalition’s siege on Tolkeen has had a devastating impact on people across North America. None have been more affected than the Cyber-Knights. This sourcebook reveals not only the history and secrets of the Cyber-Knights, but the schism the war has created among the fabled warriors.

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™

In final production right now. Unknown to most humans, deep within Mexico the vampires have established entire kingdoms. There they live like tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and food stock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions.

More human kingdoms within Mexico like the Tampico Military Protectorate and Durango, the Silver City.

Firefighting robots, hover firetrucks and more anti-vampire gear.

Magic based Vampire Hunters and human strongholds.

Techno-Wizard anti-vampire weapons and magical devices.

Profiles for Doc Reid and Reid’s Rangers, the world’s most famous Vampire Hunters.

Fort Reid, an entire city devoted to hunting the undead.

The Bloodwatch, a secret vampire intelligence agency that tracks down and exterminates Vampire Hunters.

The Yucatan Peninsula, a mysterious dimensional pocket overrun by strange demons known as Xibalbans.

The return of the Mayan god Camazotz, Lord of Bats and Darkness.

The werebeasts of Mexico and Central America; those who assist the vampires and those who fight against them.

Rifts® Black Market™ – A Rifts® Sourcebook

The Black Market is the most prevalent trader in weapons, magic items, drugs, and contraband outlawed by the Coalition. Explore the day to day business of the North American Black Market along with its smuggling routes, practices, policies and notable nefarious products and services. Learn about the five major Black Market factions in North America and foreign groups like the Yakuza, Green Scarf Sect and the Underground Railroads of Atlantis and the Vampire Kingdoms.

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun™ One – New

Northern Gun™ is the largest independent manufacturer of high-tech weapons, robots and vehicles in North America. Outside of the Coalition States, one could argue, no other kingdom is as powerful or influential, at least when it comes to technology and weapons. The manufacture and sale of Northern Gun weapons and vehicles has given virtually every kingdom, town, colony of settlers and adventurer group a chance to survive and prosper. Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, NG has been the premier outfitter of mercenaries, adventurers and upstart kingdoms for generations. Now, for the first time ever, learn Northern Gun’s history, goals and plans for the future. Of course, that means new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and gear.

In-depth look at Northern Gun: its business operations and its community.

Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames™

The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. Demons, Deevils and supernatural beings run rampant and wreak havoc across the world.

Demon plagues and mystic blights.

Soulmancy and Blood Magic revealed.

Magical and demonic weapons and war machines.

Demonic armies, strongholds and places of evil.

Hell Pits and Rune Forges.

Many Demon Lords, their minions and plans.

Calgary, the Kingdom of Monsters; in detail.

Ciudad de Diablo, Harpies’ Island and other notable Hell holes on Earth.

Lord Doom, Pain and other demonic leaders.

Horune treachery, Dimension Stormers and other villains.

Notable demonic generals, mercenaries, people and places.

Battleground: Earth – as demons and infernals amass their legions.

Global chaos and the places most dramatically affected by the Demon Plagues.

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include.

Classic Rifts® Miniatures – Back in stock

The following favorite Rifts® miniatures are back in stock. Some, like the Glitter Boy, have sold on the collector’s market for as much as $50-$120. They are being re-released for the first time in a decade.

Approximately 25 mm in size.

Each figure is an unpainted, pewter miniature. Some assembly and cleaning may be required.

Sold as a single, individual figure in a plastic bag and comes with a black, 30 mm or 40 mm plastic base.

Prices vary according to size, but range from $6-20 retail.

Sorry, not currently available in stores. Available only from Palladium Books.